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“Imagine the difference it will make when our attention as leaders goes back to serving our employees and, thus, our customers, with the greatest care.” — Misti Burmeister

‘Tis the season to be giving! But as we gather with family and friends for this “most wonderful time of the year,” don’t forget to thank the people who have served you throughout 2012.

The holidays are a great time to show our employees how much we appreciate and care for them – both with kind gestures as well as with gifts.

There are many ways to say “Thank You” – without breaking the bank! Here are some ideas to get you started:

FREE:

Just say it: Write a note, e-mail or text expressing your appreciation for something specific they do well. Here’s an example: “When I give you a project, I know I don’t have to worry about the details, because you are that good. Thank you for all you do for the team!”

Start baking: Make this gift extra-special by finding out what your employees love to devour. With the zillion diets out there, you can show them you really care by knowing what they feel good about eating. For example, I’ll eat just about anything, but I especially appreciate foods made with the Paleo lifestyle in mind. A colleague went out of her way to make Paleo cookies. Fattening? Yes! Yummy? Absolutely!

Re-gift: If you have tickets to an event that you know an employee would love to attend, give it to him/her with a note saying, “Thank you for your contribution throughout the year.” Or, if you receive a gift you know you’ll never use, give it to someone on your team who will enjoy it.

There are many great articles out there detailing the “best way” to give gifts in business, so I’ll leave that to the experts. I say, create your budget, do some investigating and discover ways to leave your “Thank You” in their hearts.